New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-05
MISTRESS AND MAID

Torhe Editorof The Tribune.
SIR. The letter in your issue Of January 10th and
signed By "One Who Knows" certainly has dolfui
twane but Instead Of exciting pity. fairly arouses ones
INDIGNATION at tho string Of msercs recounted and
which ono cannot help reading with tho conviction
that "One Who Knows must be, as they say In New
England, "Umacultieh"
have been keeping house for more than twenty
years and my experience Is that servants grratest
yrants arc .her own class. easily count on one
hand those who have really become Interested Ia the
family and rcciprocated the kindness and considef-
tion which It Is always my endeaNor TO extend TO then
while those that have been Obliged " dismiss ior
dlssensions among themselves unwilnngnrss 10 10
their simple duties and other causes that bring dis
comfort to q household arc beyond my caiculatIOn-
Tneir privileges were always to have every other
sunday and any afternoon evening they wantoi to
arrange among themselves. As kept n'e girls, was
easy hau they ways been well dsposed,to make al
arrans enlent agreeable to all but a. saia pei'o
the cruelty practised among themselves Among
ms hosts Of AIieIds who are houseAeepers the COIN
Iaint Is the same inndey TO duty, unwillinsness to
turn from tho line Of duty they demand TO DO strictly
NAMED out, even In emergency; an entire absence
OF rosl OnsN eness
l now Keep but two one has been with me through
I'LL And, VI trlals nearly five years. faithful cheerful
girl not only willing at all Tunes " do whatever shs
Is called uon to d., but also 10 do what sue sees 10
DO done Tue other although gooI % girls co. seldom
II ever comes forward To do what she Is not Asked.
and tries with all eloQuence In her power to deor-
alLe t1e otAer eili aid AIIo" iuiAcs "~"s "i"fPS
Aours TOR hor companion
This howl about the tyranny u the mistress i =
natter that can 10 easily weighed W going w Tie W,
te.Iscnce offices aud reading tho rArrcnces OF Tho
CROW ds Of sirls and sitting there waiting tof
some one 10 engage uen siri VIII taAe out VI hos
pCcAeL haLdiul Of references some Oh them running
- a. thrs or four months 1t IL clear that tho mlss
trees rather than have any words VIII Dismiss the gi
win "A favorable references Sometimes through .
FEELING of fear oItener with III IDEA she Il dong
charitable aoeda form or charity unhesitatinsy Do
nounco. !
rne weight aud number Of grievances Of "one Who
Knows" fairly maze one Sigh. Dub n tar rs my er-
perience goes Il way out OF all. oven to having
'.tho CLERGY man call" By seeing the mistress anQ
consulting her there Will always DO room In tas
house where q girl 500 her pastor, and here u
the very yerson who aid 10 alleviate her situation
/ cannot believe thay "Ono VINO knows mas CT
cited tho sympathy Of either maid or MISTRESS eA"H
those that 40 10 MAKO w tho bost Of seueon'tusoY
martyrs, aud for those there Is no heiR-taer e!y y
liAe that Of the drowning tIehohna"' i"u en"N NV
sayo me, Will DO drowned -. A..
rha Art remedy u for girl 10 prepare hersen 70
the lest OF ability for the posi- enc oescs ~
whether as coo housemaid or lsundess al these oAn
hs learned with small pay 40 tho beginning Wha~
- dn,v she takes I'D must DO done with al her MIND
mon thai mob upon tho pay at tho end OF she month";
aad shrktng al sho can I'LL pay day araWs- Al
vancement VIII naturally follow With increased capac
ity 49, -, ,,o,. s,,r.t,on. than thoss who are
nrcnared 10 ali them Il we'll illustrated In the ins
creased demand for trained nuscsa profession whicn
a few years ago was looked upon as degrading, puy
s,no. tIaiuing schools have been opened under tho
of the medical profession has been taken Up
nv many women Of refnemen and culture They have
found no difficulty In getting situasions In this mpor
ans anu honorable occopseion ana have TO- ~
degradation In 10.
Es,e- York. Jan g. 1854